Being young, black, and safe

Whenever 13-year-old Samuel Lindner goes out with his friends, his parents remind him to “act like you’ve been somewhere.”

The phrase has been a constant in the Lindner household since Sam was in preschool. It means he should present himself with confidence, bred of education and experience. Be polite, on his best behavior, and make smart choices.

On the surface, the advice sounds like typical parental nagging. But Sam, his 15-year-old sister, Sophia, and his parents know those five words connote much more – a set of unwritten rules that can mean the difference between success or failure, even life or death. The Lindners, who live in Ardmore, are African American – and that simple fact adds layers of concerns for the welfare of their children. (Philadelphia Inquirer)